The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-02-05
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
The City's Good Financial Showing-Ef-
forts to Revive the Mercantile Library
"A Big Bank Robbery, &c.
BALTIMORE. Eahrnaru Ist.

BALTIMORE, February LIST, 1887.
Messrs. Editors The new City Council met
yesterday afternoon and heard the second annual
message of Mayor Hodges read. The Mayor him
self had sufficiently recovered to be present, though
suffering somewhat from the broken arm. The
message is about the usual length and full of mat
ters tending to interest the reader. The Mayor
takes very hopeful view of business. He informs
us that in salesrooms, warehouses and factories
there are indisputable indications of q general
business recovery. The finances of the city eA-
hibit a satisfactory change for the better in the
past year. The amount of the funded and guar
anteed debt ON December 81, 1886, was $34, $685.
2S9, as against $36,733,247 at the close of 1885,
the decrease during the year being $l,777,957.-
Productive investments and obligations which
take care of themselves deducted, the amount of
the public debt upon which interest is provided
out of the tax levy is but $12 O5S, and of this
amount S., 1894 036 consists of sinking funds upon
which the city pays interest to ITSELF The pay
ments out of these funds in the past year in the
redemption of matured loans were 50, 052,657; the
additions thereto S354,07S. The city's income
from taxes and other sources applicable to the
support of the city government in the past year
was $4, 703,477, as against 81, 7O3,542 in 1885,
Expenses were S4,643,077, as against 81, 439 1875
in 1885, an increase of $203,S81. The year 1856
closed with surplus in the city treasury OF S57-
27S, an increase of some $780, 600 over the surplus
L
Appeal Tax Court shows 2,305 permits for the
erection of new buildings and additions, assessed
ct So 5S7 900, falling off of $50 from the number
of permits issued in 1885, and of $752,225 in the
value of improvements made, which, in the assess
or's opinion, was caused by interruption of bust
ness during the period of strikes. AS many OF
our friends in Baltimore county and elsewhere in
the country in and out OF the State, own largely
of CITY property, they will be glad to such an
encouraging view. There have been some draw
backs to trade, but all things considered, Balti-
moreans and others interested have reason to be
proud of their city. It is certainly improving
rapidly in every direction.
I observe with pleasure that an effort is making
towards resuscitatng the old Mercantile Library.
Already fair amount of means has been sub
scribed to that end and there hopes of getting
one hundred thousand dollars, which will insure
its starting again. I myself was one who, with
several friends first took interest in its start
ing many years ago, and have been a member
ever since. would therefore hate to see it fall
through. 1t fills place in its way not filled by
other libraries. 1t was, in its day, the pride OF
Baltimore and has been the instrument of much
good. Its annual lectures were always fully at
tended by the most intelligent and influential
on permanent basis Is It viii find full eRcour.
agement. 1t was for long time the leader of
libraries in Baltimore and indeed this side of
l.
men who have lectured before it in past years,
some of whom have passed away and others are
still living, one of whom is Oliver W. Holms. He
was brilliant in his day and still is full of interest,
but near the period of being gathered to his
fathers Mr.. John Mccoy, of our city, has been
its constant friend and still will be if resuscitated.
understand that the water in the Susquehanna
is decreasing and that no very great damage has
vet been done. There, however, has been great
apprehension of danger. The Chesapeake bay is
now open and no ice of moment.
To-morrow-Feb. 2d-will be ground hog day.
The indications are that will be able to stay out
all day without seeing its shadow. A general i'm
preston is that we will have early spring, but
it may be different. Who knows the "luck of a
lousy calf'-live all winter and die in the spring.
Senator German has been eliminating some
very sensible ideas recently about interstate COM
merce If he keeps ahead he may do the whole
nation much good on this subject. 1t is of great
Importance.
The defalcation recently come to light in the
First National Bank, on South Gay street, has
caused great establishment, by John D. Lisle, dis
count clerk, robbing the bank of about $50, 00O.-
The matter is not yet fully developed The &C
cused has not yet been caught. He was trusted
clerk who had been in the bank about twenty
years, with wife and six children and some forty
years of age. He stood very high in the commu-
nifty. This shows that it is hard to tell who to
trust. The bank, however, does not suffer ma
terialy. 1t is one of the soundest and best banks
Of the city.
Mr. Aibaugh, of Holiday street theatre, ha 8
bought the Wednesday Club house and property
on North Charles street. 1t will in time be open
ed to the public and become a very attractive
place. He pays good price for it, but not too
much. It must always be fashionable. The first
projectors of the enterprise will lose but little.
Nrcrop